Elastic exercise apparatus

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to an elastic exercise apparatus, wherein at least one elastic element is fixed or can be fixed between two handles. It is essential that clamp holding devices ( 3, 10, 40, 50 ) be used as handles, in which the at least one elastic element ( 2, 48 ) can be clamped and fixed or be fixed at a given length. Said clamp holding devices should preferably have loop, ring or bow-shaped holding elements ( 6, 7, 56 ). This makes it possible for a person working out to optimally use particularly stretch bands ( 2 ) with en even tension in a cramp-free manner and in the required length.

The invention relates to an elastic exercise apparatus according to thepreamble of Claim 1, as used particularly for sports or sports medicinepurposes.

Fixing rubber cords between two fixed handgrips of an exercise apparatus(extensor) and pulling axially on the cords via the handles whenexercising is known. By attaching an appropriate number of cords to theinner sides of the handles it is certainly possible to change thepulling force but not the length of the cords and hence of the wholeexercise apparatus. This would be necessary, however, depending on theexercise or person exercising.

Elastic exercise apparatuses are known from U.S. Pat. No. 1,729,399 andUS 2002/0052270 A1, in each of which an elastic element may be fixedbetween two handles. Respective conical clamping openings are providedin the handles, through which the elastic element is passed and fixedlyclamped, some releasable again only with difficulty, via a wedge inconjunction with a wedge-shaped thickening of the band ends or via aball. Secure, rapidly releasable clamping/fixing of the handles on anelastic exercise band having a uniform band thickness is not possible.

For flat, elastic exercise bands, which are increasingly used fortraining or exercising purposes, it is not usual to use handles betweenwhich the bands of e.g. less than 0.15 mm thickness and up to over 200mm width could be fixed. If such a band is gripped by a personexercising in order to perform an extension at chest height, forexample, the person exercising then has to dig his nails right into theband material so as not to slide off when expanding the band. Moreover,it is well nigh impossible to expand the band without using handswithout distorting it so that a pattern present on the surface of theband (see DE 200 13 074 U1 or EP 1 175 922 A2) changes under expansionuniformly over the whole width of the band and may be observed visuallyin a fully focused manner.

Thus, the Physioband produced by Tilia GmbH, 87484 Nesselwang is known,from whose exercise poster it is discernable that holding the bandtightly in a flat/open, distortion-free position is not easily possible.The person exercising is therefore focused more on clinging onto theband than on the exercise performed therewith. It may also be inferredfrom this exercise brochure or exercise poster that the loose Physiobandcan be held together to form an endless loop via a clip which issimilarly enclosed in the packaging, to enable corresponding arm or legexercises, for example, to be performed in the attached state of theband which is clipped together in the shape of a loop.

Clips of this type, used for holding exercise bands together in theshape of a loop, are already known in various forms, but they areinvariably used for closing bags, pouches, sacks etc., as described, forexample, in U.S. Pat. No. 2,818,871, U.S. Pat. No. 3,571,861, DE 25 47875 A1, U.S. Pat. No. 4,296,529, U.S. Pat. No. 4,523,353, U.S. Pat. No.5,379,489, EP 0 156 779 B1 and WO 93/16930 A1. Single-part closuredevices such as clasps or clips for bags or flexible tubes are thusknown, consisting of two arms joined by a film hinge¹, which haveinterlocking clamping profiles on the surfaces facing one another in theclosed state and which may be locked in the closed state via a catchdevice on the free arm ends. In the opened state the arms are at anangle of max. 90° to one another. The end of the bag to be closed or thetwo ends of an exercise band to be joined are laid transversely one ontop of another on one, usually the lower, arm, whereupon the second,usually upper, arm is swung onto the lower arm and pressed so that theirinterlocking longitudinal profiles firmly clamp the bag material or bandmaterial lying therebetween. The clip is held together in the closedstate by way of a catch device on the arm ends. This clip is thus usedmerely for closing or coupling, but not as a handle via which a pull isexerted.¹ The preposotion ‘zwischen’ [between] appears in this clause with nonoun following it. The translator has assumed its inclusion is amisprint.

Also, a closing clip for the insulation bag of an underwater camera isknown from U.S. Pat. No. 3,036,506, comprising a channel-shaped lowerarm and a flat bar-shaped upper arm, the arms being flexibly joined viaan axial pin passing transversely through the two interlocking parts.Via an eyelet pivotally fixed on the opposite end of the lower arm, theupper arm, and hence also the bag, is held securely in the closedclamping state via a notch provided on the said upper arm. Using theseclips as handles is not known.

It is therefore the object of the invention to indicate an elasticexercise apparatus, which allows safe, comfortable, versatile andfocused handling and exercising.

This object is achieved by means of an elastic exercise apparatuscomprising the features of Claim 1. Advantageous developments of theinvention are characterised in the dependent claims.

The elastic exercise apparatus accordingly has as handles twoclip-handles in each case which are constructed in the manner of knownbag-closing clips, in which at least one elastic exercise band is fixedso as to be clamped fixedly or releasably at a predetermined length. Inaddition, in the expanding direction of the exercise band at least onegeometric shape is provided on the band which, when expanded with apredetermined force, forms or results in a different predeterminedgeometric shape. Thus, two clip-handles are fixed at the requiredspacing of e.g. 40 cm length apart over an exercise band, for example,(or a rubber cable or rubber tube), perpendicularly, i.e. transverselyto the longitudinal or pulling direction of the band. The personexercising may thus grip the band at the two clip-handles and safelyperform the relevant expansion exercises. Pulling on these clips iseffected in such a way that they are moved apart parallel, as a resultof which the band part clamped between them is expanded uniformly inlength and the geometric shapes located thereon are not distorted andare always easily visible during exercising.

It is advantageous if a gripping or holding element directed in thepulling direction of the band is provided on each of the clip-handles.Two handles are then fixed to a band so that the respective holdingelements are directed outwards, thereby making it easier to grip andparticularly to hold the band under tension.

A rigid bow, a flexible strap or loop such as cable or cord, a centralT-shaped handle or ring or similar may be provided according to theinvention as the holding element. What is important—and only possibleaccording to the invention—is that when the band is expanded andparticularly when it is held expanded by way of the holding elements onthe handles, the band remains visible, undistorted in its entire width,during exercises at chest height, so that the expansion changes of ageometric pattern located according to DE 200 13 074 U1 on the bandsurface are possible by the person exercising.

If, for example, a cable-type holding element is provided which is fixedin an advantageous manner via respective eyelets on the two ends of onehandle side, the person exercising may then put the thumb of one handinto the holding loop formed in each case and at chest height with thearms almost extended force the handles apart, causing the band locatedbetween them to be accordingly expanded. By gripping and pulling theband apart solely via the thumbs inserted therein, the said band beingheld slip-free in its full width, free balancing-out of the band andholder takes place around the two points of rotation of the thumbs. As aresult, an extension may be performed in which a largelydistortion-free, i.e. vector-free, longitudinal expansion of the bandmay be achieved. This effect is of course also achieved when holdingrings are used.

According to the invention, a ball or a tube made of rigid or flexiblematerial such as wood or plastics material may be fitted slidably viaits central bore on the holding loop—but also on a rigid holding bow. Ifthe handle is now gripped via the ball or the tube and extended,distortion-free balancing-out of the handles may similarly then takeplace.

A thumb grip ring may also be incorporated centrally on the cable or onthe cord of the holding loop, which may similarly be made from wood orplastics material, for example. Because the thumb grip rings aresubstantially thicker than the cable or the cord and have a firm,rounded gripping inner surface, the balancing-out by the thumb via thering may take place more easily and more comfortably than via the thumbplaced directly in the cable loop. It is easily discemable that, with arelatively thin construction of the loop cable, relatively uncomfortablecompressing and cutting-in occurs under loading on the thumb, which isnot the case with relatively thick thumb rings, the thickness of whichmay correspond to the height of the closed clamping holder.

According to the invention, ellipses, rectangles or diamonds, forexample, are provided as geometric shapes on the exercise band, which,when expanded with a force of e.g. 1.5 kg or 2 kg, form or result incircles or squares. A corresponding expansion force indication such as1.5 kg or 2 kg may be applied in or next to at least one of thegeometric shapes, and such that, when forming a circle from an ellipse,for example, under expansion, the corresponding indication of e.g. 1.5kg is readable very easily.

It is advantageous if an oblique rhombus pattern, a rectangle pattern oran ellipse pattern is provided on the exercise band, consistingrespectively of at least one rhombus, rectangle or ellipse directedalong its short axis in the expansion direction, which are deformed in apredetermined expansion situation into, respectively, an oblique square,standard square or circle. Just one geometric shape may be arrangedcentrally on the band in each case or two or more identical shapes maybe applied symmetrically to the centre of the band or evenly spaced fromone another along the whole band.

It may also be particularly advantageous, however, to provide at leasttwo identical geometric shapes having different dimensions adjacent toone another, to which different force indications are assigned andwhich, when the particular corresponding expansion force has beenreached, form the predetermined different geometric shape, thus, forexample, become a circle from an ellipse. In this case a pair of shapes,for example, e.g. two ellipses of different sizes, may be provided inthe centre of the band or several pairs of shapes may be provided orarranged next to one another symmetrically to the centre or in evenspacing of the pairs of shapes relative to one another over the wholelength of the band.

Obviously, however, more than two shapes having different dimensions andthus different loadings assigned to them may also be provided next toone another, with corresponding force indications, such as four ellipsesof different widths or different widths and heights, designed for andmarked with 0.5 kg, 1 kg, 1.5 kg and 2 kg or even a fifth ellipse markedwith 2.5 kg. The exercise apparatus may thus be used by people ofdifferent strength for different exercises, e.g. for exercises whileholding a specific force constant or exercises which continually changebetween different expansion loadings, i.e. intermittent exercises.

In a particularly advantageous manner, the clamping clips used asclip-handles may have clip arms, on the inner side of which there areclamping profiles similar to those in the known bag clips. Unlike those,however, they are no longer connected via a film hinge, which does notallow the two arms to fold out and remain lying open in a 180°supporting position, but in most cases holds the two arms in an angle ofless than 90°, thereby obstructing the view into the clamping surfacesand thus hindering optimum placement therein of the band. Connecting thetwo independent clamping arms via a hinge with bearing eyelets andbearing pin enables the two holder arms to rest on a support flat andwithout tilting in the fully opened, i.e. folded out state. The exerciseband may thereafter be placed more easily and more accurately on the onearm at right angles to the longitudinal extent of the arms. The secondarm is then folded over the lower arm, which remains lying at rest withthe band lying thereon, and is firmly pressed onto the latter, so thatthe fastening at the ends of the arms, preferably a pivoting bow, locks.

It is advantageous if a spherical abutment is provided on the bottom ofthe clamping groove of the lower arm, on which, in the closed state ofthe clamping arms, the at least one bar of the upper arm rests with theband lying therebetween. Moreover, there are then two upper clampingbars present which are spaced apart from one another such that theypartially engage around the spherical abutment, causing the band clampedtherebetween additionally to undergo a deflection. The band is therebynot only deflected in a V shape but in a W shape, as a result of whichmore secure clamping takes place and thus higher pulling forces areexerted via the handles on the band without the band slipping out of theclamping holders of the handles.

The spherical abutment may in this case be a soft-elastic cord which isfixed in the bottom of the groove by adhesive bonding, for example,wherein the bars may then be made shorter and non-resilient. As a resultof the soft-elastic abutment, optimum non-slip clamping is achievedwithout the risk existing of damaging the band by squashing it.

Secure clamping is also obtained if the abutment is a semicircular,rigid elevation on the groove bottom, while the two clamping bars are ofa slightly longer, resilient design, so that they are spread apartslightly as they press down on the abutment and thus cannot squash theband lying therebetween.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if the two arms of the clip handle havesupporting bases which are relatively wide in relation to the height andlength thereof, which bases are e.g. 1.5 to 5 times wider than theactive inner side of the arms. A particularly wide supporting surface ofthe arms is thereby obtained, which then rest without tilting in theopen, folded out state, e.g. on the table or floor, so that the band maybe placed, appropriately aligned, at rest thereon. Even when the upperarm is pivoted and folded onto the lower arm and pressed closed, thereis no danger of the holder tilting, which could cause the band to slipout of its aligned position. In addition, this supporting base may alsohave a curved design and be wider in the middle than at the ends. Anattractive shape, with good ease of handling, is thereby achieved at thesame time.

It is particularly advantageous as well if, on the inner side of themargin of the base of the lower arm on which the band is placed forclamping firmly, several markings such as grooves, lines, knobs or beadsare provided transversely to the longitudinal extent thereof, in equalspacing relative to the centre. This is possible in a simple manner, asthe supporting bases project, reaching relatively far out laterally inrelation to the central shaped strips, so that substantially a T-shapeof the arm is obtained. There is thus a relatively wide base marginavailable on either side, enabling the markings to be applied on theinner sides so as to be easily visible. The band may thus be insertedand firmly clamped in the gripping clip exactly perpendicularly and in acentral orientation at the same time.

The invention is described in more detail below with the aid of severalembodiments with reference to the drawing, in which

FIG. 1 shows a plan view of an elastic exercise apparatus with twoclamping handles;

FIG. 2 shows a plan view as in FIG. 1, with clamping handles with rigidbow-type holding elements;

FIG. 3 shows a plan view as in FIG. 1 and 2 with handles with holdingloops;

FIG. 4 shows a plan view of a clip-handle in construction, with holdingloop and thumb grip ring;

FIG. 5 shows a plan view of a clip-handle from FIG. 4, with holding loopand gripping ball;

FIG. 6 shows a section VI-VI from FIG. 4 through a clip-handle with arigid abutment and resilient bars;

FIG. 7 shows a section VII-VII through a clip-handle with resilientabutment cord and rigid bars;

FIG. 8 shows a side view of the clip-handle according to FIG. 4 to 7, inpartially opened state;

FIG. 9 shows a plan view of the clip-handle holder according to FIG. 8,illustrating the lower arm with placement markings;

FIG. 10 shows a side view as in FIG. 8, in the closed state;

FIG. 11 shows a plan view of a clip-handle in the fully opened state;

FIG. 12 shows a side view of the clip-handle in the state of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 shows a plan view of an exercise band with a longitudinallycentral row of rectangles with loading indications of 1.5 kg, in theunexpanded state;

FIG. 14 shows a plan view of the band according to FIG. 13, in the stateexpanded with an expansion force of 1.5 kg;

FIG. 15 shows a plan view of an exercise band with a longitudinallycentral row of diamonds with loading indications of 1.5 kg, in theunexpanded state;

FIG. 16 shows a plan view of the band according to FIG. 15, in the stateexpanded with an expansion force of 1.5 kg;

FIG. 17 shows a plan view of an exercise band with a longitudinallycentral row of pairs of ellipses, with ellipses of different sizes andloading indications of 1.5 kg and 2 kg assigned thereto, in theunexpanded state;

FIG. 18 shows a plan view of the band according to FIG. 17, in the stateexpanded with an expansion force of 1.5 kg;

FIG. 19 shows a plan view of the band according to FIG. 17, in the stateexpanded with an expansion force of 2 kg;

FIG. 20 shows a plan view of an exercise band with a central rectanglewith loading indication of 1.5 kg and handles fixedly attached to theband ends, in the unexpanded state;

FIG. 21 shows a plan view of the band similar to that according to FIG.20, with an ellipse, a central diamond and a rectangle and the expansionforce indications of 1 kg, 1.5 kg and 2 kg, in the unexpanded state, and

FIG. 22 shows a plan view of the band according to FIG. 21, in the stateexpanded with an expansion force of 1.5 kg;

FIG. 23 shows a plan view of a holder with central eyelet and thumb gripring.

Represented in FIG. 1 is an elastic exercise apparatus 1 which consistsof an exercise band 2, known per se, to which two clamp-handles 3 areattached at the optimum distance apart for the exercise concerned. It isdiscernable that this is an exercise band on the surface of which atleast one row of a geometric pattern is applied. It may also be seenthat the non-tensioned band motif 4 is here an ellipse, which under apredetermined pulling force is expanded into a circle as the tensionedband motif 5. The person exercising may now evenly expand the exerciseband 2 clamped between the clamp-handles 3 in the course of extensionexercises and follow the expansion process visually and mentally untilthe provided motif change occurs. This indicates that the pulling forceor tension under which the band is to be held constant during theexercise is reached. This occurs without cramped, direct digging in ofthe hands into the band, as a result of which no distortions in the bandand premature fatigue phenomena in the hands can occur.

FIG. 2 shows a similar exercise apparatus to FIG. 1, only here theexercise band 2 has diamonds as geometric motif 4 in the non-tensionedstate of the band, which become squares as motifs 5 in thecorrespondingly tensioned state. Moreover, on each of the clamp-handles3 is provided a holding element 6 which is, as is evident here, a rigidbow which is attached to one longitudinal side of the handles. Theperson exercising is now able to grip the handles in a simple manner bythe bows with his whole hand and thereby pull on the two handles andhence on the band. The person exercising may, however, also veryeffectively put just the thumb 8 of each hand therein, as may be seen inmore detail from FIG. 3. The thumb thereby acts as axis of rotation, viawhich free balancing-out takes place during the exercise, so that thetwo clamp-handles always automatically align themselves parallel to oneanother under even pulling of the band 2 which is clamped in place in aslip-free manner.

It may be seen from FIG. 3 that the handles 3, between which the band 2is clamped, bear flexible holding loops 7 as holding elements, intowhich the thumbs 8 of the hands 9 of the person exercising are placed.It is discernable how self-balancing, correct aligning of the exerciseapparatus takes place as a result of being suspended between the thumbsand thus allows even, distortion-free expansion of the band.

In FIG. 4 to 12, the clamp-handle is represented in its particular formas a clip-handle 10, in which the band 2 is securely clamped between twomutually pivotable clamping arms, as is described in more detail lateron.

Thus FIG. 4 shows how a holding loop 7 is fixed to the clip-handle 10 byway of eyelets 11 fitted at the longitudinal ends. The cable, rope orcord from which the holding loop 7 is formed is here passed through thetwo eyelets 11 and ends in a thumb grip ring 12 in which the loop endsare securely fixed. The person exercising now places his thumb 8 in theeccentric opening 13 of the grip ring. It is discemable howbalancing-out of the handles takes place, wherein displacement of theloop cord in the eyelets may additionally also take place, to align thering 12 symmetrically in relation to the handle and hence to the band.

FIG. 5 shows the same view and the same form of construction as in FIG.4, only here a gripping ball 14 is provided as the gripping element onthe holding loop, represented non-tensioned, the said ball beingthreaded via its central bore 15 on the loop cord 7. The personexercising does not now grip the holding loop 7 directly but via thegripping ball 14. The axial sliding of the ball on the cord similarlyenables free balancing-out of the exercise apparatus to take place.Obviously several gripping balls of identical or differing diameter maybe threaded on the holding loop instead of one gripping ball, or agripping reel 16, as represented in FIG. 11, may be used.

It is discemable from FIG. 6, which shows a cross-section through aclip-handle 10 in the closed state of tension, that the handle consistsof a lower arm 20 and an upper arm 21, which interlock by means of theircorrespondingly designed inner profiles and thereby secure the band 2laid between them to effect clamping. A V-shaped groove 18 is in thiscase provided in the shaped strip 19 of the lower arm 20 longitudinallycentrally thereof, on the groove bottom of which is moulded a sphericalabutment 17. The upper arm 21 has on its shaped strip 22 two resilientbars 24, separated via a central groove 23. It is discernable that inthe tensioned/closed state of the clip-handle 10 the bars 24 stand onthe spherical abutment 17 such that they are pressed slightly apart andthus resiliently abut its periphery, sliding laterally, without fittingthereon so as to exert pressure perpendicularly or radially. As a resultthe band 2 laid therebetween is not squeezed as in gripping jaws, but ismerely held securely between the bars and the abutment, pressedresiliently against them. Secure, slip-free holding of the band over itswhole length is ensured by means of the five deflection points in theband's path. This secure holding may also occur with bands of differingthickness, as the resilient bars just spread apart slightly more or lessas required. Furthermore, it is discernable how the eyelets 11 areprovided on the shaped strip 19 of the lower arm 20, in which connectionit should be noted that the eyelet is raised to the upper margin of theshaped strip 19 far enough to enable the holding loop to be fixed to theeyelet as close as possible to the band 2. Finally, marking beads 29 areprovided on the inner base margin, as may be seen more closely from FIG.8 to 11.

In the form of construction of the clip-handle 10 represented in FIG. 7,a U-shaped groove 30 is provided on the shaped strip 19 of the lower arm20, in the bottom of which is placed an elastic cord 31 having acircular cross-section and is fixed therein by means of adhesivebonding, for example. In addition, the shaped strip 22 of the upper arm21 has two rigid bars 34 which are separated from one another by meansof a groove 33. The rounded front ends of the bars 34 stand on thesoft-elastic cord 31 with perpendicular pressure, depressing itslightly. It is obvious that the band 2 laid therebetween, which hereundergoes five deflections in the shape of a W, is held resilientlyclamped extremely securely but at the same time without being damaged.The profiles and the elastic cord are adapted to one anotherdimensionally so that even the thinnest band is held securely by slightdepressing of the elastic cord. But even the thickest band to which thestrongest pulling forces are applied as are required is similarly heldsecure against slipping or sliding by the correspondingly strongerdepressing of the elastic cord, determined by the thickness of the band.

As is discernable from FIG. 8, the lower arm 20 may be connected to theupper arm 21 via a hinge 35 with an axis 36 so as to be pivotable orfoldable open and closed over min. 180°. Provided at the other end ofthe lower arm 20 is a pivoting bow 37 made preferably from sprung steelwire, on which in turn a guide roller 38 or guide ball is placed so asto rotate. In addition, the outer end of the upper arm 21 has aprojection 39, over which, in the closed state of the clip-handle, i.e.in the pressed down state of the upper arm on the lower arm, the guideroller 38 rolls into place as the pivoting bow 37 pivots upwards, andsecures the two arms. Finally, it is discernable how the marking beads29 are arranged on the inner side of the base margin 27 evenly spacedrelative to one another and to the centre of the arm at the same timeand how also the two eyelets 11 are provided, into which the cord of theholding loop 7 is placed.

FIG. 9, which permits a clear view onto the upper side of the lower arm20 through the broken-away upper arm 21, illustrates particularly thewidth relationship according to the invention between the shaped strip19 with the V-shaped or U-shaped groove 18 or 30 and the base 25. It isdiscemable that in its central, greatest width, the base 25 is here morethan three times the width of the shaped strip 19. As a result, there isoptimum resistance to tilting of the lower arm and also of the wholehandle, in the position resting on a level support, as is the case, forexample, when placing the exercise band therein. In addition, themarking beads 28 ² provided on the inner base margin are provided onboth sides of the shaped strip 19, extending in the transverse directionof the clip, i.e. in the insertion direction of the band, aligned withone another on both sides. As a result they permit easy and accurateplacement of the band and “guide” the human eye. Numerals or letters mayadditionally be assigned to the marking beads 28 and these may bearranged e.g. in mirror image relationship, each going outwards from thecentre. Thus, when placing, there is no need to start an elaboratecount, but simply to note on the left and right that the same letters ornumbers or other symbols of the same type are visible at each of themargins of the band. The band may thus be positioned or aligned quicklyand accurately both centrally and perpendicularly on the lower arm andthus relative to the whole clip.² The marking beads are referenced 28 in this paragraph and also in thelist of reference numerals, but elsewhere in the description and in theFigures they are referenced 29.

FIG. 10 shows the clip-handle in the closed or, via the hinge 35, in thefolded-together state of the arms 20 and 21 and with the bow 37 swungupwards, the guide roller 38 thereof engaging over the projection 39 andthus holding the two arm ends fixedly together.

FIGS. 11 and 12 show the clip-handle 10 in the fully folded-out statevia the hinge 35 and with the pivoting bow 37 folded out outwardly. Itis discemable that the arms 20 and 21, via their wide bases 25, and alsothe pivoting bow 37 rest on a level support 32. In this tilt-proof stateof the clip-handle, folded out free of tension, the exercise band maysimply be laid on the lower arm in the appropriate orientation,particularly as it may also be discerned quickly and reliably by meansof the transverse marking beads 29, which are only provided on the lowerarm, where and how the band should be laid in the correct orientation,i.e. on the lower arm 20. Once the band is duly laid on the said lowerarm, the upper arm 21 may then be lifted from the support 32 via itsouter end with the projection 39 without any risk of tilting and pivotedaround 180° or folded over the lower arm. Thereafter, close to the outerend of the upper arm, [the said upper arm]³ is pressed in the directionof the lower arm and the guide roller 38 of the pivoting bow 37 isclipped over the projection 39 of the upper arm. It is additionallydiscernable from FIG. 11 how a holding reel 16 is provided on theholding loop 7, which reel is provided centrally with a deep annulargroove into which the thumb 8 may be placed.³ Suggested by the translator, as the verb has no subject in the sourcetext.

Finally, it should further be noted that while the handles according tothe invention are designed particularly for holding exercise bands andrubber cords, they may, however, also be successfully used to make thebands and cords endless, if required. Thus, it is possible in relevantexercises also to pull directly on the handle, which couples the twoends of an exercise band, for example, while the band loop is locatedattached therein.

A flat exercise band 2 is represented in the non-loaded state in FIG.13, on which is applied a longitudinally central row of rectangles 57,evenly spaced apart. The expansion force indication 58 is inscribedinside each rectangle 2 [sic, recte 57] as 1.5 kg, under the effect ofwhich the rectangles 57 are expanded into the squares 59 apparent inFIG. 14. The corresponding indication of 1.5 kg also becomes readablevery easily in this case.

FIG. 15 similarly shows a flat exercise band 2 in the non-loaded state,on which is applied a longitudinally central row of diamonds 60, evenlyspaced apart. The expansion force 58 is inscribed inside each diamond 60similarly as 1.5 kg, under the effect of which the diamonds 60 areexpanded into the oblique squares 61 apparent in FIG. 16. Here too thecorresponding indication of 1.5 kg becomes readable very easily.

A flat exercise band 2 in the non-loaded state is discemable from FIG.17, on which band is arranged a longitudinally central row of pairs ofellipses, evenly spaced apart, each pair composed of a wider ellipse 62and a narrower ellipse 63. The expansion force indication 58 isinscribed inside each wider ellipse 62 as 1.5 kg, under the effect ofwhich these wider ellipses 62 are expanded into the circles 65 apparentfrom FIG. 18, while the expansion force indication 64 is inscribedinside each narrower ellipse 63 as 2 kg, under the effect of which thesenarrower ellipses 63 are expanded into the circles 66 apparent from FIG.19.

FIG. 20 shows a short elastic exercise band 2, on which just onerectangle 57 with the expansion force indication 58 is appliedcentrally, while respective handles 67 are fixedly attached at both endsof the band.

The unexpanded band 2 represented in FIG. 21 similarly has two fixedhandles 67 at its ends, only here three different geometric shapes, eachwith different expansion force indications, are applied in the centre ofthe band. Thus there is a wider ellipse 68 with the indication 69 of 1kg, a diamond 60 with the indication 58 of 1.5 kg and a narrow rectangle57 with the indication 64 of 2 kg.

FIG. 22, finally, shows how the band of FIG. 21 is expanded under theexpansion force effect of 1.5 kg such that the oblique ellipse 68 withthe indication 1 kg is over-expanded into a longitudinal ellipse, thediamond 60 becomes an oblique square 61, and the narrow rectangle 57 isexpanded into a slightly wider rectangle. It is discemable that underexpansion with 1.5 kg, the shape of an oblique square 61 correspondingto this expansion force with a corresponding expansion force indicationis clearly visible, while the two other shapes are not pulled into aclear expansion shape (circle or square).

FIG. 23 shows another handle 3 which may be designed basically as aclip-handle and which has a central eyelet 55 as holding element, towhich a grip ring 56 is attached so as to be pivotable and displaceable.This grip ring 56 may be a standard ring or an eccentric ring like thegrip ring 12 of FIG. 4.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

1. elastic exercise apparatus

2. elastic exercise band

3. clamp-handles

4. motifs, non-tensioned

5. motifs, tensioned

6. holding bow

7. holding loop

8. thumb

9. hand

10. clip-handles

11. eyelet

12. thumb grip ring

13. opening

14. gripping ball

15. bore

16. gripping reel

17. abutment

18. V-shaped groove

19. shaped strip

20. lower arm

21. upper arm

22. shaped strip

23. groove

24. bars, resilient

25. base

26. supporting surface

27. base margin

28. markings (beads)

29. - - -

30. U-shaped groove

31. elastic cord

32. support

33. groove

34. bars, rigid

35. hinge

36. axis

37. pivoting bow

38. guide roller

39. projection

40. - - -

41. - - -

42. - - -

43. - - -

44. - - -

45. - - -

46. - - -

47. - - -

48. - - -

49. - - -

50. - - -

51. - - -

52. - - -

53. - - -

54. - - -

55. eyelet, central

56. grip ring

57. rectangle

58. expansion force indication of 1.5 kg

59. square

60. diamond

61. oblique square

62. wide ellipse

63. narrow ellipse

64. expamsion force indication of 2 kg

65. circle 1.5 kg

66. circle 2 kg

67. fixed ellipse

68. wide ellipse

69. expansion force indication of 1 kg

1-11. (canceled)
 12. An elastic exercise apparatus, comprising: anelastic exercise band having at least a first geometric shape definedthereon, wherein when the exercise band is expanded by application of apredetermined force the at least first geometric shape is deformed intoa different geometric shape; and two clamping handles, wherein theexercise band is releasably clamped between each of the clampinghandles, wherein each clamping handle includes a first and second armpivotally connected to each other, wherein the first arm of eachrespective clamping handle includes a bar and the second arm of eachrespective clamping handle includes a corresponding groove for engagingthe bar such that the exercise band is secured between the bar and thegroove, further wherein each clamping handle includes a respectivefastener for securing the first arm to the corresponding second arm in aclosed position.
 13. The exercise apparatus according to claim 12,further comprising a holding element attached on each of the clampinghandles, wherein the holding element is directed in a pulling directionof the exercise band, wherein the holding element is one of a rigid bowand a flexible loop constructed of one of a cable and a cord.
 14. Theexercise apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising one of: atleast one of a ball, a tube, and a gripping reel constructed of one ofrigid and flexible material slidably fitted via a central bore thereofonto the loop; and a thumb grip ring secured to the loop in asubstantially centrally and parallel planar relation with respect to theexercise band.
 15. The exercise apparatus according to claim 12, whereinthe at least first geometric shape is one of an ellipse, a rectangle,and a diamond, wherein a corresponding amount of predetermined force isvisually associated with the at least first geometric shape, whereinapplication of the corresponding amount of predetermined force on theexercise band causes the at least first geometric shape to be deformedinto one of a circle, a standard square, and an oblique square,respectively.
 16. The exercise apparatus according to claim 15, furthercomprising a second geometric shape defined on the exercise band andhaving a corresponding amount of predetermined force associatedtherewith, wherein the second geometric shape is one of: substantiallythe same shape as the first geometric shape; and substantially adifferent shape than the first geometric shape, wherein the secondgeometric shape is positioned in one of: a substantially spaced relationto the first geometric shape; and a substantially paired relation withthe first geometric shape.
 17. The exercise apparatus according to claim12, wherein the bar of the first arm of each clamping handle furtherdefines a first bar and a second bar, wherein the exercise apparatusfurther comprises an elastic substantially spherical abutment situatedwithin and substantially along the length of the groove, wherein theabutment is adhesively secured to a bottom portion of the groove,wherein the first bar and second bar are adapted to resiliently bendapart and rest upon the abutment when the first and corresponding secondarms are in the closed position
 18. The exercise apparatus according toclaim 17, wherein the first and second arms include respectivesupporting bases, wherein the width of the bases is about 1.5 to 5 timesthe width of one of the bar and groove of the respective first andsecond arms.
 19. The exercise apparatus according to claim 17, furthercomprising at least one eyelet defined substantially centrally on one ofthe first and second arms, wherein the eyelet is sized to receive one ofthe gripping reel and the thumb grip ring.
 20. The exercise apparatusaccording to claim 17, wherein the first and second arms are separatepieces and are pivotally connected to each other by a hinge comprised ofa pivot bearing providing at least a 180° angle with respect to thefirst and second arms in an open position.
 21. The exercise apparatusaccording to claim 18, wherein at least one of the supporting basesincludes one of a groove, a line, a knob, and a bead defined therein ina transverse evenly spaced relation to the length thereof.
 22. Theexercise apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the fastener is apivoting bow positioned on the second arm, wherein the pivoting bow isadapted to resiliently snap over a projection defined on the first arm.